Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-12-09
HARPER ON THE STAND.
He Makes a sweeping Denial Of the
Charges that He Speculaled In Grain.

ne MAKES a sweeping Dem1al Oh inc
Charges that He Speculated In Grain.
CINCINNATI, Dec 9.-This proved to be the great
day in the trial Of E. L. Harper Until after court
opened it was not known whether Harper himself
would become a witness or not 1t has been said
that his counsel protested against his appearance
ON the witness stand, and that he as firmly In
sisted that his interests demanded that he should
tell his own story. This uncertainty brought
most unusual throng OF spectators. Before 10
O'Clock, the hour for opening court, all the avail
able space In the courtroom was occupied. Even
the space behind the railing sacred to the
officers Of the court, was rIed with ladies
and friends OF the court, among whom were Hon.
F. +. NOyeS, ex-United States minister to France,
and Hon. I. T. Powell, late democratic candidate
for governor OF Ohio. At 1906 the crowd was so
great that an order was issued to admit no more,
not even attorneys unless seats SHOULD be vacated
Still the corridors filled and the poor bailtn at the
door was worried beyond measure by appeals TO
promptly and the impressive opening or court,
during which every one stood until the closing
words "GOd save the United states and these hon.
Orable courts were delivered created hush upon
the animated scene.
HARPER APPEARED PALE AND ANXIOUS,
his wife weary, and her sister. Miss Matthews,
wore O face bearing traces or recent distress. At
1910 the question was solved by Mr.. Blackburn
calling Mr. Harper to the witness stand.
Before he took the oath Judge jackson asked !:
"Did you request to be placed on the witness
stand?"
Eyes, sir" was the answer.
The oath was then administered, and in answer
to questions by Mr.. Blackburn, the witness said
he now resided in the county JAIL and told OF his
previous business career, ending with the Fidelity
the Fidelity safe Deposit and Trust Company.
He smiled when asked II he knew j. w. wiltshire,
and went on TO detail WilShires connection with
the Fidelity National Bank. He said that in Sep
tember, 1886, he was induced by Wiltshire TO make
him loan OF $3.50 Wiltshire at that time was
debtor to the bank to the amount OF 500 0O0
and he represented to Harper that II this loan was
not made the bank would suffer- He accOmmO-
n IpSn taxing an 70
National Bank stock at par, then worth 16O.
ALL WENT WELL UNTIL IN OCTOBER
when witness returned from little dinner party
composed OF Wiltshire and some officers OF the
bank, and found that during hfs absence Wiltshire,
Eckert q CO.'S check for $26,OOO on the First Ma
tiOnal Bank had been returned not good That check
Wiltshire said he was unable TO make good, and
witness was out Wiltshire, Eckert & Co. got Hopkins
TO wire 10000 credit TO Chicago upon certified
checks At the close OF business hours that day he
found Wiltshire Eckert q Co.'S account overdrawn
$4,000 With the former $26 900, their debt to the
he felt that they were in a dangerous position.
Wiltshire transferred to him the real estate and
the stock, which he turned over to the bank. He
stormed at Wiltshire, but could get nothing out
OF him. He then suggested TO the cashier To take
a call loan from Wiltshire, Eckert CO., and save
the cashier.
NEVER sPEcULATED IN GRAIN.
In answer TO direct questions from Mr.. Black
burn, Mr.. Harper stated unreServedly that he
never gave an order OF any KIND to Mr.. Eckert to
buy grain for him In Chicago, and he was equally
sweeping and explicit In saying that he never au-
thorized Mr.. Wiltshire TO buy grain for him in Chi
cago elsewhere. This Is the point OF the whole
case, and is In direct conflict with the testimony
Of both Mr.. Wiltshire and Mr.. Eckert.
EXCUsING THE BANK IRREGULARITIES.
Mr.. Blackburn then took up the accounts of the
bank with the First National Bank or New York
and the Chemical National Bank OF New York,
where large balances were carried, and Mr..
the transactions. He did SO with great
mnuteness, referring often to the books
OF the bank. In general his excuse for the irregu
larities that the bank was put into trouble by
the Wiltshire, Eckert d. Co. debt. and he used
whatever methods he could to save the bank and
tide over affairs. His testimony was not ended at
the noon adjournment.